Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2009 Mar;50(2):189-214.
doi: 10.1007/s11162-008-9114-7.

Diversifying Science: Underrepresented Student Experiences in Structured Research Programs

Sylvia Hurtado  1 , Nolan L Cabrera, Monica H Lin, Lucy Arellano, Lorelle L Espinosa
Affiliations

Diversifying Science: Underrepresented Student Experiences in Structured Research Programs

Sylvia Hurtado et al. Res High Educ. 2009 Mar.

Abstract

Targeting four institutions with structured science research programs for undergraduates, this study focuses on how underrepresented students experience science. Several key themes emerged from focus group discussions: learning to become research scientists, experiences with the culture of science, and views on racial and social stigma. Participants spoke of essential factors for becoming a scientist, but their experiences also raised complex issues about the role of race and social stigma in scientific training. Students experienced the collaborative and empowering culture of science, exhibited strong science identities and high self-efficacy, while developing directed career goals as a result of "doing science" in these programs.

Keywords: Identity; Racial/ethnic minorities; Self-efficacy; Stigma; Undergraduate science research.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Abraham JP, Lujan SS, López EE, Walker MT. Graduating students’ perceptions of outcomes of college experiences at a predominantly Hispanic university. Journal of Hispanic Higher Education. 2002;1(3):267–276.
    1. Allen WR. The color of success: African-American college student outcomes at predominantly white and historically black public colleges and universities. Harvard Education Review. 1992;62(1):26–44.
    1. Allen WR, Epps EG, Haniff NZ. College in Black and White: African American students in predominantly white and historically black public universities. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press; 1991.
    1. American Association of Colleges & Universities. Making excellence inclusive. 2007 Retrieved June 2007 from www.aacu.org/inclusive_excellence/index.cfm.
    1. Anaya G, Cole D. Latina/o student achievement: Exploring the influence of student-faculty interaction on college grades. Journal of College Student Development. 2001;42(1):3–14.

LinkOut - more resources